Hagibis Typhoon

Massive storm kills more than 50 people in Japan

AMID THE CARNAGE CAUSED BY Typhoon Hagibis – the strongest storm to hit Japan in decades – there was genuine tragedy. At the time of press, Hagibis has killed at least 58 people, according to the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. One of them was an elderly woman in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, who died when she fell from a rescue helicopter.

The 77-year-old, who was rescued after being stranded in floodwaters, plunged 40 metres after she was reportedly dropped by workers from the Tokyo fire department crew. “We are deeply sorry for carrying out the wrong procedure,” the fire department’s spokesman Hirofumi Shimizu said.

Hagibis made landfall south of Tokyo on October 12 and moved northward. With wind speeds of up to 225km/h, the devastating typhoon slammed eight prefectures across Japan, deluging towns and cities, including Tokyo, and leaving more than 425,000 homes without power.

The typhoon also forced the cancellation of several games of the Rugby World Cup, currently being held in Japan.

One of the hardest hits areas was Akigase Park, on the Arakawa River floodplain near Saitama City, which was left under water. Many residents along the Chikuma River in Nagano prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, had to be rescued from their rooftops.

A massive rescue operation, involving 110,000 people digging through mudslides and searching flooded riverbanks, is now under way. Kyodo News reported at least 20 people are still missing and dozens more are injured.

Local residents are in shock at the ferocity of the typhoon. Rie Hasegawa, a woman in her 30s, told Reuters: “The force of the water was incredible. It was dark, frightening, and I thought this might be the end,” she said.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government will support those communities reeling from the typhoon. “There are concerns that the impact on lives and economic activities may persist,” Abe said. “We will respond as best we can as we continue to think about those who are suffering.” •

Rescuers come to the aid of residents in Marumori, Miyagi, which was flooded by Typhoon Hagibis.

Flooding from the typhoon has left towns isolated. A woman lifting debris next to a home in Chiba, Japan.